Forestry Facts & Figures is an annual summary of forestry statistics. It is published by the Forestry Commission England, Forestry Commission Scotland, Forestry Commission Wales and the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The publication is produced in accordance with the standards of trustworthiness, quality and public value, and it is our intention that it should be a reliable and authoritative source of information on the state of the forest resource in the UK.

The publication is based on the results of the Business Survey (Office for National Statistics). The survey is conducted annually and provides information on the volume of wood produced, the value of wood products, and the area of woodland.

The publication also includes information on the trade in forest products, the use of wood for energy, and the production of wood-based panels. It provides a comprehensive overview of the forestry sector in the UK, and is an important resource for policymakers, industry, and the general public.

The publication is available for download on the Forestry Commission website, and is also available in hard copy form. It is updated annually, and is an essential resource for anyone interested in the forestry sector in the UK. Employment in forestry & wood processing in the UK

- Forestry: 16,000 employees
- Pulp & paper: 13,000 employees
- Sawmilling: 9,000 employees
- Panels: 5,000 employees

Total: 43,000 employees

Woodland area The area of woodland in the UK now stands at 3.17 million hectares. This represents 10% of the land area in England, 19% in Scotland, 15% in Wales and 8% in Northern Ireland.

Changes in woodland area in the UK over time

- 1919: 5%
- 1965: 8%
- 1980: 12%
- 2019: 19%

Conifers and broadleaves The overall proportion of conifers and broadleaves is half and half across the UK, but these proportions vary in each country.

Wood production Private sector woodlands accounted for 60% of softwood production in 2018 (11.4 million green tonnes) and 90% of hardwood production (0.7 million green tonnes).

Carbon The carbon stored in forest soils accounts for almost 70% of total forest carbon stock.

Employment in forestry & wood processing in the UK

- Forestry: 16,000 employees
- Pulp & paper: 13,000 employees
- Sawmilling: 9,000 employees
- Panels: 5,000 employees

Total: 43,000 employees

Forest and woodland certification 44% of forests and woodland in the UK are certified by the international sustainability standards FSC and PEFC. The majority of certified woodland is in public ownership.

New planting in the UK 28.3 thousand hectares (2019) 13.4 thousand hectares (2018/19)

UK-grown softwood and hardwood Quantities of UK-grown roundwood for timber processing and other uses.

- Private sector woodlands accounted for 60% of softwood production in 2018 (11.4 million green tonnes) and 90% of hardwood production (0.7 million green tonnes).

- The proportion of UK grown roundwood that is used for woodfuel has increased in the last 20 years.

- The carbon stored in forest soils accounts for almost 70% of total forest carbon stock.

- The UK is the second largest net importer of forest products in the world.